Trolley conductor insulator



April 1952 L. F. BRAHMER ETAL ,593,970

TROLLEY CONDUCTOR INSULATOR Filed Dec. 13, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l w mm A ril 22, 1952 F. BRAHMER ETAL TROLLEY CONDUCTOR INSULATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15,. 1946 H Iv Q ms WITNESSES: fiw iw 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L. F. BRAHMER ET AL TROLLEY CONDUCTOR INSULATOR April 22, 1952 Filed Dec.

WITNESSES: I 4%. 45% iDfUy'bk/v w Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TROLLEY CONDUCTOR INSULATOR Application December 13, 1946, Serial No. 716,024

4 Claims.

Our invention relates generally to trolley conductor devices, and it has reference in particular to section insulators for trolley conductor systems.

Generally stated, it is an object of our invention to provide a magnetic blow-out section insulator which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and is reliable and economical in operation.

More specifically, it is an object of our invention to provide forusing arc horns with a section insulator having a centrally located tension member, to guide an arc upwardly to one side of the tension member.

Another object of our invention is to provide for producing a double arc in a current collector device, and for guiding it upwardly on opposite sides of the device.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide for producing a transverse magnetic field in the region of an arc gap in a section insulator with a minimum of leakage flux outside the region of the arc gap.

It is also an object of our invention to provide for using a longitudinally arranged coil for producing a transverse magnetic field at an arc gap in a section insulator.

It is an important object of our invention to provide for usin divergent arc horns with a section insulator having a centrally located tension member so as to divert an arc around the tension member, and for using an arc chute in conjunction with a magnetic field for extinguishing the arc.

Still another object of our invention is to provide, in a trolley conductor device, for using a metallic runner member with are horns and to split the runner member longitudinally adjacent the arc horns so as to draw separate arcs on each of the horns.

Other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, be explained hereinafter.

In practicing our invention in one of its forms, we utilize a section insulator having spaced metallic end members for attachment in a trolley conductor system, and which are connected by centrally disposed upper and lower compression and tension members, respectively. Metallic runner members are positioned in spaced relation below the lower tension member, and are insulated from the end members. The runner members are provided with upwardly divergent arc horns on the adjacent ends which extend outwardly about the tension member to guide an are drawn therebetween. The upper compression member is provided with a magnetic section having pole pieces adjacent opposite ends which depend on opposite sides of the compression member so as to overlap in the region of the gap between the arc horns. A coil wound on the magnetic section is connected in circuit relation with one of the end members and the runner member adjacent thereto to provide a magnetic field for forcing an arc upwardly between the horns to extinguish it.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of our invention, reference may be made to the following detailed description, which may be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a trolley conductor insulator device embodying the invention in one of its forms;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the section insulator shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the insulator shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial side elevational view, broken out in part, of the insulator shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the runner members shown in Figs. 1 through 5;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of a section insulator embodying the invention in another of its forms;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial side elevational view, broken out in part, of the section insulator shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken alon the line XX of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan view of one of the runner members shown in Figs. 7 through 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII2HI of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 4.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 10 may denote, generally, an insulator device in the form of a section insulator for overhead trolley conductor systems havin metallic end members H and I2 which may be connected by a centrally disposed lower tension member [4 adjacent the lower ends thereof, and by an upper compression member [5 disposed vertically above the tension member adjacent the upper ends of the end members.

The end members H and 52 may be provided with means, such as the set screws id, for attachment to adjacent ends of a trolley conductor, or either one or both of them may be provided with other suitable attaching means for effecting attachment to other trolley conductor devices, such as crossings, trolley frogs, etc, in a manner well known in the art.

The end members II and [2 also may be pro vided with renewable runner members IS to provide for guiding a current collector (not shown) along the device. An approach member l5 may be used in conjunction therewith for providing a smooth passage for a current collector.

Metallic runner members 2d and 2:1 may be positioned between the end members in insulated relation therewith and in spaced relation to each other. For example, the leading runner member may be separated from the runner member [8 on the end member ll by a gap 22. The trailing or adjacent runner member 24 may be terminated at some distance from the runner member 18 of the end member [2 and an insulated runner member 22 may be interposed therebetween.

In order to provide for minimizing the effects of an arc drawn by a current collector as it traverses the insulator device Hi, the runner members 20 and 2| may be provided with are horns and 25 at their adjacent ends. referring to Figs. 3 through 6, it will be seen that the runner members 20 and 21 may each comprise substantially channel-shaped runner portion 25 having upstanding cars 25 at spaced intervals along each side with openings 2? therein for securing these runner members in predetermined relation to the tension member Hi. The are horns 25 and 26 may be inclined towards the opposite ends of the runner members, and at the same time they extend upwardly and outwardly about the, tension member it so as to guide any are drawn therebetween upwardly and away from this tension member. Additional protection may be aiforded the tension member [4 in the form of a protective sleeve 23 of asbestos material, or the like, interposed between the arc horns and the member [4.

In order to insure initiating separate arcs, which may be readily. directed about the tension member M on'opposite sides thereof so as to distribute the heat and secure a more effective dissipation thereof, the runner members 25 and 2| may be provided with longitudinal slots 3i) adjacent the arc horns, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so that two points of separation are produced between a current collector traversing the device and the runner member whereby separate arcs may be initiatedon each of the arc horns. To insure the are being guided along the outermost portion of the arc horns, the inner corner of the leading or outer edge may be rounded, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, so as to provide a relatively sharp corner at the outer edge for guiding an arc upwardly and awayfrom the tensionmem to 3 and 5, the arc chutes 34 may comprise rela tively fiat plates 35 and 31 of insulating material which may be positioned on the outside and inside of the upper portions of the arc horns, respectively. The plates 35 and 31 may be separated by means of insulating spacers 38 and secured in position by means of transverse bolts 40 which pass through the insulating support member 32.

For the purpose of assisting in extinguishing an are drawn between the arc horns 25 and 26, magnetic blow-out means may be provided. For example, the upper compression member [5 may, as shown in' Figs. 1 through 5, be provided with a magnetic section 42 having coil 43 positioned thereon for producing a transverse magnetic flux in such a direction as to force an are drawn between the horns 25 and 25, upwardly. The magnetic section 42 may, for example, comprise a suitable length of iron pipe, or the like, which may be connected to adjacent insulating portions 34 and d5 of the compression member by means of coupling members 46 which may threadedly engage said portions.

In order to provide for producing a relatively uniform concentrated magnetic field transversely of the section insulator and substantially in the region of the zone 48 intermediate the arc horns 25 and 26, means, such as the magnetic side plates 49 and 58, may be provided on opposite sides of the section insulator. The plates 49 and 58 may be connected to opposite ends of the magnetic section 42 by means of arms 5! and 52 of magnetic material which may be positioned on the magnetic section 42 and be secured in any suitable manner, such as by means of set screws 53, so as to project on opposite sides therefrom. By having the plates 49 and extend from the opposite ends of the magnetic section 52 and on opposite sides thereof, the overlapping end portions will be in the region of the zone 48 between the arc horns. Since the leakage paths between the portions of the plates 49 and. 50, which are outside of the region 28,.are relatively long, the principal portion of the magnetic flux produced by the coil 43 may be utilized in forcing an arc drawn between the arc horns 25 and 26 upwardly to stretch andrapidly extinguish it.

It will be realized that section insulators embodying the features of our invention may be arranged for either or both directions of travel. Since the insulator of .Figs. 1 through 6 is arranged for travel of a current collector from left to right, the coil 43 maybe connected between the end member H and the adjacent runner member 26. The coil'43 may be connected, for example, in circuit relation with the end of the trolley conductor connected to the end member H and the runner member 28 by means of conductors 5! and 41, respectively.

Referring to Figs. '7 through 11, it will be seen that in a difierent embodiment of the invention the insulator device may be providedwith metallic runner members 54 and 55, which are generally similar to the runner members 20 and 2! of Figs. 1 through 6. 'In this embodiment of the invention, the insulator has been arranged for travel from right to left. Accordingly, the'runner members 5 5 and 55 are adjacent the right hand end 'member 12.

Inorder to provide a more compact insulator device, the runner members 54 and 55 may, as shown in Fig. 11, beforeshortened, but otherwise substantially identical withv the runner member 23 shown in Fig. 6, being provided with divergent are horns 56 with a longitudinal slot 51 therebetween in the runner portion. The runner members 54 and 55 may be positioned relative to the tension member ['4 of the section insulator device by means of upwardly projecting support arms 58 which may be positioned on opposite sides of the tension member M. The arms 58 of the runner member 54 may be secured to an insulating support block 68 positioned on the upper side of the tension member by means of transverse bolts 3 I.

In order to reduce the overall length of the insulator device, the runner member 55 may be shifted to the right, so that it overlaps, in part, the end member l2. One of the pairs of upstanding ears 58 may, as before, be connected to the insulating support block 80 by a transverse bolt 3!, while the other one may be connected to the end member I! by means of a transverse bolt 62. In order to insulate the runnermember 55 from the end member I2, a layer of insulation 64 may be interposed between the runner member and the end member, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. An insulating tube 66 may be utilized to insulate the bolt 62 from the end member 12.

In order to provide for controlling an are drawn between either of the arc horns 58 of the runner members 54 and 55, means, such as the insulating plates 69 and I0, may be provided on the outer and inner sides of the arc horns on each side of the tension member I4. The plates C8 and 18 may be maintained in spaced relation so as to provide arc chutes, by means of insulating spacers l2 interposed between the plates, as is best shown in Figs. 7, 8 and10. The spacers 12 may, for example, be substantially triangular in shape, with the apex projecting downwardly into the region 13 intermediate the arc horns 55 so as to provide for additionally stretching an arc which is rising upwardly between the arc horns.

In order to provide for more rapidly extinguishing an are drawn between the arc horns 56, means, such as the blow-out coils I5, may be provided. The coils I may be formed from flat ribbon or strap conductor wound flatwise so as to provide relatively fiat or pancake coils, having substantially triangular outlines conforming to the configuration of the regions intermediate the arc horns. The coils 15 may be secured to the plates 69 by means of similarly shaped outer plates 11, which may be spaced from the outer arc chute plates 68 by means of spacers 18 and secured thereto by means of rivets 19 and 80. The complete assembly of the arc chutes and the coils may be secured to the insulating support members 68 by means of transverse bolts 82. The coils 15 may be connected together by means of conductors 84 and 85, and may be connected in circuit relation between the end member l2 and the runner member 54 by means of conductors 81 and 88, respectively. Since the blowout coils are separate from the compression member, it may comprise the usual insulating member 89 without any modifications.

Whenever a current collector traverses a section insulator embodying the features of our invention, the blow-out coil is energized as soon as the current collector leaves the end member and draws current therefrom through the blowout coil. By the time the current collector reaches the arc gap between the arc horns of the runner members, and before it contacts the adjacent runner member. a relatively strong,

' tion.

Since the runner members are slotted at the arc horn ends, separate arcs are formed between the runner member which the current collector is leaving, and the current collector. These arcs are each forced upwardly by the magnetic field produced by the blow-out coil. As soon as the current collector moves sufllciently far along the adjacent runner member, the arcs transfer from the current collector to the arc horns of the adjacent runner member. Since the arc horns extend outwardly around the tension member I4, the arc is directed outwardly around the tension member. Since the arc is enclosed within arc chutes on either side of the tension member, the tension member is completely protected therefrom, and since the direction of the transverse magnetic field is such as to force the are upwardly, the arc is readily stretched out, and extinguished without any damage to the tension member.

In order to protect the blow-out coil and are chute construction from damage by desired current collectors, guard means 98 may be provided on each side of the current collector. The guard means 98 may, for example, comprise an out-- wardly bowed horizontal guard bar 92 positioned on each side of the insulator device ahead of the blow-out coil and are chute construction. The guard bar 92 may be secured to the insulator device by means of a support member 93, which may be secured to the end member l2 by means of the transverse bolt 62 which secures the runner member 55, and by means of a transverse bolt 94 which passes through the upper portion of the end member I 2. A sleeve 95 of insulating material may be used in conjunction with the bolt 94 to insulate the support member 93 from the end member.

From the above description and the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that we have provided a magnetic blow-out insulator wherein the arc is divided, so as to pass around the tension member without any risk of damage thereto. The slot in the arc horn end of the runner portion produces a split are by contact with the current collector. The are horns are arranged with sharp corners on the outer edges so as to keep the are at the outer surfaces of the arc horns, and away from the tension member. While the blowout coil has been illustrated as mounted on the compression member in one of the modifications of the invention, it will be apparent that a longitudinal coil construction may be used wherein-the magnetic core is separate from the compression member. In such instance, the blow-out coil could be mounted either above or below the compression member without departing from the concept of the invention. In addition, while arc horns have been shown on both runner members, and on each side of the tension member, it will be understood that are horns may, if desired, be used on only one side of the tension member, and in some instances it may be desirable to use an arc horn or horns on the leading runner member only, using the current collector as the other are horn.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described construction and difierent em bodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it

. 7 r is intended that 'all'the matter contained-in the abovedescription and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a trolley conductor insulator, a pair of end members, a tension member connecting said end members in spaced relation, metallic runner members having upwardly divergent arc horns on adjacent ends mounted on the tension member in spaced and insulated relation, a compression member connecting the end members and having a section of magnetic material intermediate the ends insulated irom 'theend members, and means including a coil wound about the magnetic section and pole, pieces of magnetic material dependent from the ends of the section of magnetic material arranged on opposite sides of the runner members to produce a magnetic field transversely of the runner members intermediate the arc horns.

2. A trolley conductor insulator comprisin a pair of end members, an insulatingtension mem-.- ber connecting said end member-s in spaced relation, metallic runner members positioned beneath the tension member in spaced and insulated relation, a compression member positioned between the end members above the-tension member-having a section of magnetic material, a pole piece extending from adjacent each end of the magnetic section on-opposite sides of the tension member to provide overlapping sections in the region of the adjacent-ends of the runner members, and a coil wound-on the magnetic section to produce a transverse magnetic a tion with each other, said runner members havingupstanding ears on opposite sides coother ends, means including insulating plates positioned inside and outside a portion of the are horns on each side of the tension member providing arc chutes, and a coil connected in circuit relation with one of the end members and an adjacent runner member to provide a magnetic field efiective to force an arc upwardly in one of said chutes.

4. An insulator device comprising, spaced end members connected by strain means, longitudinally spaced metallic runner members having arc horns extending to one side of the strain means, insulating means positioned to one side of the strain means enclosing at least-a portion of the arc horns, and guard means supported on an end member extending outwardly about said insulating means. 5

- LELAND F. BRAHMER.

RAYMOND P.,HAN NAI REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in :the

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

